Mennonite Weekly Review

WATERLOO, Ont. and SCOTTDALE, Pa. — Thanks to contributions from donors, more than 1,000 copies of Jesus Matters, a new book from Mennonite Publishing Network, have been given to pastors of Mennonite Church USA congregations.

Jesus Matters, a new book from Mennonite Publishing Network.

About $10,000 was donated by a number of individuals to give away the book, which explores why Jesus still matters for young adults today.

The money was raised by the book’s co-editors, David Shenk and James Krabill.

“We just mentioned the idea to a few people, and the funds came in,” Shenk said. “It was a touching and humbling experience.”

About $1,000 of that amount was personally donated by Lancaster Mennonite Conference bishops.

“They dug into their own pockets to make it available to their pastors,” Shenk said.

The donated funds were also used to give copies to all members of the Mennonite World Conference Global Missions Council, as well as the Executive Council of MWC.

Mennonite Mission Network bought copies for 450 youth leaders at the MC USA convention in Columbus, and Eastern Mennonite Missions bought 100 copies for missionaries and church planters.

The mailing to pastors was accompanied by a letter from Ron Byler, associate executive director of MC USA.

Jesus Matters “is filled with important stuff for people who take Jesus seriously,” said Byler, adding that it “can be a valuable resource for small groups, Sunday school classes, youth and young adult groups, new believer’s classes, leadership training and more.”

Jesus Matters consists of 16 chapters on topics such as Jesus and creation, Jesus and the cross, Jesus and salvation, Jesus and mission, and Jesus and the future. Each chapter is a collaborative effort between authors such as Shenk, Krabill, Stanley Green, Michele Hershberger, Mark Thiessen Nation, Willard Swartley, Jack Suderman, April Yamasaki and others, along with young adults in Canada and the United States.

“There are gale-force winds blowing in our culture that challenge our commitment to Christ,” Shenk said. “The goal of this book is to show that Jesus continues to be relevant and surprising good news today.”